Cream Scones

I know I've already mentioned how much I love scones here, so I thought I'd try out a new recipe for them... I saw these on the Paula Deen's show on the Food Network one day and they looked really good! Lucky for us, they tasted just as delicious as they looked!





recipe courtesy Paula Deen and the Food Network

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups flour, plus more for rolling the dough
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
3 ounces cream cheese
1/3 cup heavy cream (I used half and half because that's what I had in my fridge), plus more for brushing the scones
1 tablespoon turbinado sugar (sugar in the raw)

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Paula's recipe says to line a baking sheet with parchment paper, but I just greased the baking sheet instead.
Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Then cut in the butter and cream cheese until the mixture is crumbly (the second picture is how mine looked after this step). Add the cream and stir just until the ingredients are moistened.
Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured surface and then roll (or pat) the dough until it is about one inch thick.  Cut the scones using a 2 1/2 inch round cookie or biscuit cutter (I didn't have one so I used a star cookie cutter... I thought they turned out really sweet!). Place scones on the prepared baking sheet, brush tops with the remaining cream, and sprinkle with turbinado sugar.
Bake for about 12 minutes or until golden brown.

Hope you get to enjoy these sometime over the weekend! They're really good with a cup of coffee :)

Happy Friday!!

❤Britt

Black and White

I've been wanting to try the black and white trend so I was really excited when I found these pants (that just so happened to work with my black and white striped tee!)! Since this look has been popping up everywhere, I decided to try a not-so-classic take on it and create a look with an edgy vibe by mixing prints and adding studded accents.





pants- Forever 21, top- H&M, heels- KORS Michael Kors, sunglasses- Kate Spade, cuff and earrings- Bedazzled Boutique, bag- Express (old)

I'm hoping the weather is warm this weekend... we have lots of plans for both days (another busy weekend) so I'm really hoping that it isn't cold and rainy (which seems to be trending as of late here)! Fingers crossed!  Do you have any plans yet?

Happy Thursday!

❤Britt

Floral Pants Take Two

So, since this is the second time I've worn these pants... and each time I have gotten multiple compliments followed by some combination of the words 'but I couldn't wear that' or 'I feel like I would only wear them once'... I thought I'd try something different here: a brief “how to” segment. Since I have both styled my floral pants (see how I styled them the first time for winter here) and worn them more than once, here are some tips for styling this new trend. Also, it is worth mentioning that they're actually a super versatile piece in that if you choose the right fabric, you can totally get 3-4 seasons out of them (I've already worn them for 2!) AND there are typically multiple colors which means there are limitless styling options!

1. Since I've already done a striped top (stripes look great with florals!), I decided to change up the color scheme (I used rose and gold for winter) and pattern play for a totally different look. This time, I opted for a spring color palette in pastels and started with a solid colored, mint green sweater. 2. I then chose my shoes- lavender-hued ankle strap flats to both freshen up the look and to bring in another pop of color! 3. To pull it all together... the jewelry and the bag. I chose a statement necklace with similar colors as the top and flats and threw on some brighter colored bracelets for some added punch. I also added a leopard clutch because I think that leopard counts as a neutral... and I love florals and leopard together!


sweater- J. Crew, pants- H&M, flats- Madewell, bag- South Moon Under, necklace- J. Crew Factory, bracelets- J. Crew and Forever 21, sunglasses- Ray-Ban

Let me know what you think! Also, I'd love to hear some ideas from you if you have any suggestions for my next “how to”!

❤Britt

Pop of Pink

I just had to buy these sunglasses when I saw them... I tried to be good and pass them up, I even let them go after trying them on the first time, but when I saw them again it was game over. They're such a pretty shade of pink- they'll brighten up an otherwise dark outfit and will be perfect for the beach this summer! I'm really loving shades of pink, violet, and mint for the spring... do you have a favorite?



dress- Anthropologie, blazer- J. Crew, tights- J. Crew, wedges- Seychelles, bag- Kate Spade outlet, bracelet- J. Crew, watch- vintage, sunglasses- Quay via Nordstrom

Hope your week is off to a good start! The sun is out today so that makes me a happy camper right now :) It also reminds me that I need to start my garden soon!!

❤Britt

Weekend Wear

For running errands over the weekend, I usually opt for some sort of comfy-chic combination that generally ends up looking like this... the colors and shoe choices range depending on my mood that day... or the weather :) I tried to fit in some shopping but I didn't end up having as much free time as I thought... so I didn't get to do much (I did get to clean my house though!)...




jeans- Paige Denim, sweater- J. Crew, top- J. Crew, belt- J. Crew, wristlet- Coach (old), flats- Sam Edelman, watch- Fossil, earrings and bobby pin- very old, sunglasses- Ray-Ban

I hope you all enjoyed your weekend... it's crazy that it is already Monday... and the end of March! Still waiting over here for the warmer weather that spring is supposed to bring... and not quite as patiently as last week, might I add!

Have a happy Monday everyone!!

❤Britt

Chocolate Almond Blondie

I made these the other day...because I was craving sweets, as usual... but I didn't just want a chocolate chip cookie. I came across this recipe in my recipe box (that I must have snipped from the back of a bag of Nestle chocolate chunks a while ago) and it sounded perfect! They were really good- Joe brought almost half of them to work and I'm happy to say that they received lots of praise :)





recipe from Nestle Toll House, makes 2 dozen bars

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups packed light brown sugar
1 cup butter, softened (2 sticks)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1 3/4 cups semi-sweet chocolate chunks (I used Nestle Toll House milk chocolate chips)
1 cup whole almonds (I left these out of my blondies but I bet they'd make a really tasty addition... even walnuts would be good!)

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Then grease 13 x 9 baking pan.
Mix flour, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl. In another bowl, combine brown sugar, butter, and vanilla in a large bowl until creamy. Add eggs and beat until mixture is light and fluffy. Gradually add and stir in the dry ingredients. Add 1 cup chocolate chunks and 1/2 cup almonds. Spread into prepared baking pan and sprinkle remaining 3/4 cup chocolate chunks and 1/2 cup almonds on top.
Bake for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Allow to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before cutting into bars.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Have any exciting plans? I am attempting to keep mine plans-free and get in some relaxing and maybe even some cleaning... and shopping, of course!!

Enjoy!
❤Britt

Coral and Navy

I'm so excited for spring now that it is actually here!! I thought this outfit was perfect for the first day of the season :) I loved the bright colors, and the blue and coral combination was stunning! What did you wear for the first day of spring? Did you do anything special to celebrate? I wish I could say that we did (and I had every intention of working in my garden) but the day got away from me rather quickly... as most do!




skirt- J. Crew, tank- J. Crew (old), blazer- H&M, tights- J. Crew, booties- Sam Edelman, clutch-Anthropologie necklace- Anthropologie, bracelet- J. Crew, sunglasses- Kate Spade

We're having some crazy weather over here- yesterday was sunny and gorgeous and today I woke up to snow... So while I'm very happy that spring is technically here, I wish I could dress like it! But I suppose like all good things, it will come with time :)

❤Britt

Good and Green

I have a lot of green in my closet but this top is one of my favorites! I love the pop of the red flowers on the tropical green background and the peplum just adds to the overall sweetness of the piece. I think that peplum is one of my favorite trends and it makes me really happy that it is seemingly here to stay :) What is your favorite trend? Or maybe you have a go to color (mine is obviously green!)?



top- Anthropologie, cardigan- J. Crew, jeans- J. Crew, belt- J. Crew, flats- Sam Edelman, bag- Avon (a gift from my Mom), watch- Kate Spade, necklaces- (diamond) Tiffany & Co. and (Connemara marble) a gift from my Grandmom, sunglasses- Ray-Ban, lips- Stila

Happy First Day of Spring!! I hope you get to do something that involves breathing in some fresh air and taking time to smell the roses today (even if it means you have to do so figuratively).

❤Britt

Bows and Dots

I wore this outfit to a soccer game over the weekend... it was freezing and raining... and hailing actually... a perfect opportunity to don my trusty Hunter boots! It was a good thing we took these pictures before we left because we were drenched by the time we made it to the stadium! I've been wanting to wear this blouse for a while now but it hasn't been warm enough, so, I decided to get creative and and pair it with some polka dots :) It works because the polka dot pattern is much smaller than the bows. What pattern pairing will you be doing this season?




blouse- Ann Taylor Loft, shirt- J. Crew, jeans- J. Crew, bag- Rebecca Minkoff, boots- Hunter, bracelets- Bedazzled Boutique, Forever 21, J. Crew

I'm so excited that tomorrow is the first day of spring! I hope the weather starts to warm up soon :)

Hope you're having a great day!

❤Britt

Prep Talk

I do love the classic pink and green combo :) Somehow it always makes me smile (maybe because it reminds me of Lilly Pulitzer!)! Do you have a favorite color combination? I have a few!! I'm also loving this mint, tweed, moto blazer... I need to get one in leather (is it possible to have too many blazers?)!




skirt- J. Crew (old), blazer- H&M, shirt- J. Crew, belt- J. Crew, tights- Hue, flats- J. Crew, necklace- Forever 21, bag- Kate Spade, sunglasses- Ray-Ban

We had a very busy (and exciting) weekend... hopefully this week will be a little quieter :) Hope you all have a happy Monday!

❤Britt

P.S.
My sister got engaged yesterday! So excited for her!! Congratulations Can and Bill :)